MORE than 30 parents of truanting pupils face fines of up to £1,000 after education bosses began court proceedings against them.

Lancashire County Council says it has taken the action against the parents "as a last resort" after other attempts to solve the problem failed.

It is taking six parents to court from the Burnley area, 10 from Pendle and 14 from the Accrington, Ribble Valley and Rossendale education area. Blackburn with Darwen is also pursuing two cases through the courts.

None of the prosecutions relate to aggravated truancy, the offence introduced by the Government which can result in a prison sentence if parents are found guilty.

That is only pursued by the education authorities if truancy continues after a parent has not responded to a conviction on the lesser charge of failing to secure the regular attendance of their child at school.

County Coun Alan Whittaker, in charge of education and matters relating to young people at the county council, said: "Taking parents to court is always the last resort and something we would rather avoid doing. It is regrettable that it has got to this point in so many cases but we have a duty. Court is a last resort.

"Wherever possible, we have sat down with parents and tried to establish what is causing the truancy and then tried to find a solution.."

County Hall says the number of cases is the highest it has had at any one time.

Truancy sweeps, where police and education officers go out looking for truants,have led to problem cases being identified. The government also records absence levels in its performance tables every year.

A spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen Council said: "We currently have two cases that are going through at magistrates.."

Blackburn with Darwen Council hit the headlines last year when it pursued a mother under the aggravated truancy charge.

She was convicted, but spared jail after her son promised to start going to school. He had been just 11 times in the previous year but has since become a regular attender.

Lancashire County Council is training its officers to use the new aggravated charge.